Wire bending tool



Dec. 16, 1958 lE. c. swAN-soN 2,864,272.

WIRE BENDING TOOL Filed May 51, w57

2,864,272 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 w BENDING Toor.

Edwin C. Swanson, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Brock Equipment Company, a partnership Application May 31, 1957, Serial No. 662,917

11 Claims. (Cl. 81-15) This invention relates to a hand tool for bending wires.

The general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved Wire bending tool having improved means for grasping and retaining any of variously sized wires.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tool that includes a wire grasping and retaining head having a plurality of openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters in combination with a single movable clamping member associated with the head and adapted to contact a wire in any .of the openings.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide such a tool in which the wire grasping and retaining head is provided with a transverse passage intersecting the Wire openings and with a locking pin in the passage ofr smaller cross-sectional area and dimensions than the passage for movement relative thereto in order to contact a wire in any of the openings in combination with a forcing member having a rounded inner surface portion adapted to contact the locking pin and force it into contact with a wire in any of the openings.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention with a wire in place in in the head preparatory to bending the wire.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the tool and wire at the completion of the bending operation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 4 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The wire bending to-ol shown in the accompanying drawings includes a first lever member 10 provided withv `a handle (not shown) and a second lever member 11 also provided with a handle (not shown). The first lever member 10 has one end inserted into and attached to a Wire grasping and retaining head 12. The head 12 has an outer surface 12a in the shape of a section of a cylinder and has a flattened surface section 12b and a recessed surface section 12C. The attened surface section 12b is so positioned that it can be arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second lever member 11 when the levers 1l) and 11 are in opened position as shown in Fig. l. The recessed surface section 12C is then forwardly of and spaced from the section 12b in the direction of rotation during the Wire bending operation. rBetween the sections 12b and 12C is a rounded protrudingsection 12d which serves as an anvil over 2. which the wire is bent in the bending operation as will be described hereinafter.

The second lever member 11 is provided with bifurcated ends 11a that are substantially parallel to each other. The head 12 which has flattened parallel end surfaces is located inwardly of the extreme end portions 11b of the bifurcated ends 11a and is rotatably mounted between these ends 11a for rotational movementvabout a hinge pin 13. This hinge pin 13 has its opposite ends attached to the ends 11a of the lever member 11. The hinge pin 13 is so positioned that when the levers V10 and 11 are in opened position as shown in Fig, 1 preparatory to bending a wire held in the head 11, the pin is located beneath the recessed portion 12C and slightly forwardly thereof so as to be adjacent to the lower portion of the cylindrical surface section 12a. With this arrangement, when the head 12 is rotated labout the hinge pin 13 by closing the levers 10 and 11 toward the positions shown in Fig. 2, the head 12 is not only rotated about the pin 13 but is also moved toward the end portions 11b of the lever 11.

The head 12 is provided with a series of substantial ly parallel Openings 14 progressing in diameter from one end of the head to the other. 'Ihus as viewed in Fig. 3 the largest diameter is at the left and the smallest at the right. These openings extend inwardly from .the edge of the recessed section 12e that is adjacent to the anvil section 12d and are substantially parallel to the flattened surface section 12b. The side of each opening 14 that is adjacent to the section 12b is tangent to a plane that is parallel to the surface 12b. Because of the progressing diameters of the openings 14, the opposite sides of the openings 14 are tangent to a plane that is at an angle to the section 12b.

The head 12 is also provided with a transverse passage 15 extending between the opposite ends of the head. This passage 15 intersects each of the openings 14 at their inner ends and, because the openings 14 vary in diameter, the passage 15 is at an angle to the axis of rotation determined by the hinge pin 13.

Located within the passage 15 is a substantial-1y cylindrical locking pin 16 provided with a longitudinally knurled surface. The pin 16 has a diameterconsiden ably smaller than the diameter of the inclined passage 15 in which it is loca-ted. The passage 15 andY pin 16 are so located with relation to the seco-nd lever 11 and hinge pin 13 that the ends of the passage 15 are always at least partially covered by the bifurcated ends 11a of the lever 11. This serves to retain the locking pin .16 within the passage 15 without Afurther support so that the locking pin is, in effect, free floating.

As the passage 15 intersects the inner ends of the openings 14 the locking pin 16 maybear against anyV wirein any opening 14 to hold the wire in the head. in order to apply locking force against thepin 16, the 'head is ,provided with a threaded openingV 12e in which is positioned a threaded thumb screw 17. The thumb screw opening 12e extends from the outer surface of the head lli?!y into the transverse passage l5. On the innervend of this opening 12e there is positioned a ball 13 bearing agains-tthe knurled surface of the locking pin 16 at about the `center of the pin. The bally 18 is contacted by the'thunibscrew 17 and thus is forced by the thumb screw into 'locking engagement with the pin. With this arrangement,. the locking pin 16 can rock around the ball 1S so as to'app'ly pressure to a wire in any of the openings Mregardless of the diameter of the opening and its corresponding wire. A

Located beyond the head 12 is a bending die 19.` This die 19 is mounted on a transverse pin 20 between the extreme end portions 11b of the second lever 11. .l The die 19 is provided with a series of annular surface portions 19a each substantially aligned with an opening 14 and having a radius of transverse curvature substantially the same as the radius fof its corresponding opening 14. The die 19 is so positioned that'when the levers 10 and 11 are rotated from their open position as shown in Fig. 1 to their closedY positionV as shown in Fig. 2, the die will be closely adjacent to the attened surface portion 12b of the head 12.

In operating the bending tool of this invention, a wire 21 is inserted into an opening 14 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the wire. The wire is inserted while the tool is in the open position as shown in Fig. l so that the wire extends adjacent to and above the die 19. In the preferred form when the tool is in this open position the thumb screw 17 extends between the divergent levers 10 and 11 so as to be readily accessible. The wire 21 is then locked in position by tightening the thumb screw 17 to press the ball 18 against the knurled surface of the locking pin 16. Because the ball contacts the lockmg pin at substantially a point on the ball, the pin is free to rock around this point of contact to apply locking pressure to the inner end of the wire 21.

When the wire has been locked in position in the manner described, the levers 10 and 11 are rotated to closed position as shown in Fig. 2 about the hinge pin 13. This causes the wire 21 to rst contact the die 19 and then be bent back over the anvil portion 12d and against the attened section 12b on the head as shown in Fig. 2. This produces a smooth, uniform bend 21a in the wire. The tool is then opened up and the wire released by loosening the thumb screw 17.

The bending tool of this invention is closely related to that shown, described and claimed in H. R. Peterson application, Serial No. 583,153, led May 7, 1956 but differs therefrom principally in including an improved apparatus for retaining the wire in the tool during the bending operation.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited'by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A wire bending tool, comprising: a rst lever member; a wire grasping and retaining head at one end thereof having a plurality of openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters; a single movable clamping member associated with said head adapted ing die located a greater distance from the axis than the t head so that the head can pass between the axis and the die, said levers, head and die being pivotally movable from one position wherein a wire in the head extends adjacent to the curved surface of said die to a second position wherein the head passes inwardly of the die to bend the Wire back over the head and form a bend in the wire.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said wire grasping and retaining head has a transverse passage intersecting said openings, the clamping member being positioned in said passage for contact with a wire in an opening.

3. A wire bending tool, comprising: a rst lever member; a wire grasping and retaining head at one end having a plurality of elongated openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters and a transverse passage intersecting said openings; a locking pin in said passage of smaller cross-sectional area and dimensions than said passage for movement relative to said passage adapted to contact a wire in any of said openings; means in said head for forcing said locking pin into contact with a wire; a second lever member having a bending die with a curved surface at one end; and means for pivotally mounting said levers together about an axis in scissors fashion with the bending die located a greater distance from the axis than the head so that the head can pass between the axis and the die, said levers, head and die being pivotally movable from one position wherein a wire in the head extends adjacent to the curved surface of said die to a second position wherein the head passes inwardly of the die to bend the wire back over the head and form a bend in the wire.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said locking pin is of cylindrical shape with a longitudinally knurled surface and said forcing means includes a member having a rounded surface bearing against said locking pin intermediate the ends thereof.

5. -The tool of claim 4 wherein said forcing means includes a ball normally bearing against said locking pin and a thumb screw for forcing said ball into locking engagement with said locking pin.

6. A wire bending tool, comprising: a first lever member; a wire graspingand retaining head at one end having a plurality of elongated openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters and a transverse passage intersecting said openings; a locking scissors fashion with the bending die located a greater distance from the axis than the head so that the head can pass between the axis and the die, said levers, head and die being pivotally movable from one position wherein a wire in the head extends adjacent to the curved surface of said die to a second position wherein the head passes inwardly of the die to bend the wire back over the head and form a bend in the wire.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein said locking pin is of cylindrical shape with a longitudinally knurled surface and said forcing means includes a member having a rounded surface bearing against s'aid locking pin intermediate the ends thereof, the locking pin being retained within said passage at all positions of said lever members by engagement with said bifurcated end portions.

8. The tool of claim 6 wherein said pivotal mounting means includes a hinge pin engaging said member and said bifurcated end portions, the transverse passage and the locking pin being positioned at an angle to said pivotal axrs.

9. A wire bending tool, comprising: a iirst lever member; a wire grasping and retaining head at one end having a plurality of elongated openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters and a transverse passage intersecting said openings; a locking pin in said passage of smaller cross-sectional area and dimensions than said passage for movement relative to said passage adapted to contact a wire in any of said openings, the locking pin being of cylindrical shape with a longii tudinally knurled surface; a thumb screw in a radial passage in said headV that intersects said transverse passage; aball Vbearing `against said locking pin and engaged by said thumb screw for locking the locking pin against a wire in one of saidopenings; a second lever member havingv bifurcated end` portions located on opposite sides of said head and extending therebeyond, the locking pin being retained within said passage at all positions of said lever members by engagement with said bifurcated end portions; a bending die on rsaid extended end portions of the second lever member; and a hinge pin engaging said head land said bifurcated end portions and providing a pivotal axis for said levers, the transverse passage and the locking pin being positioned at an angle to said pivotal axis, said levers, head and die being pivotally movable from one position wherein a wire in the head extends adjacent to the curved surface of said die to a second position wherein the head passes inwardly of the die to bend the wire back over the head and form a bend in the wire.

10. A wire bending tool, comprising: a first lever member; a wire grasping and retaining head at one end having a plurality of elongated openings of varying sizes for a;- commodating wires of corresponding diameters and a transverse passage intersecting said openings; a locking pin in said passage of smaller cross-sectional area and dimensions than said passage for movement relative to said passage adapted to contact a wire in any of said openings; 15

means in said head for forcing said locking pin into contact with a wire; and means for applying pressure to a wire in said head to bend the wire back over the head and form a bend n the wire.

11. A wire bending tool, comprising: a rst lever mentber; a Wire grasping and retaining head at one end having a plurality of elongated openings of varying sizes for accommodating wires of corresponding diameters and a transverse passage intersecting said openings; a locking pin in said passage of smaller cross-sectional area and dimensions than said passage for movement relative to said passage adapted to contact a Wire in any of said openings, the locking pin being of cylindrical shape with a longitudinally knurled surface; a thumb screw in a radial passage in said head that intersects said transverse passage; a ball bearing against said locking pin and engaged by said thumb screw for locking the locking pin against a Wire in onev of said openings; and means for applying pressure to a wire in said head to bend the wire back over the head and form a bend in the wire.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 601,403 Rollins Mar. 29, 1898 1,387,683 Bussel Aug. 16, 1921 1,619,951 Melville et al. Mar. 8, 1927 2,127,185 Parker Aug. 16, 1938 27,172,351 Kivley et al Sept. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,199 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1927 58,247 Switzerland Oct. 14, 1911 

